Circuit-closer for fire-alarm circuits.



W. W. KATTERJOHN.

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOB FIRE ALARM CIRCUITS. nruoumn FILED IA! 20,1908.

904,786. Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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W; W. KATTBRJOHN. cmcm' CLOSER FOB rm: ALARM CIRCUITS. APPLICATION FILED IA? 20, 1908.

Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

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wwhattery'olm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WESLEY KATTERJOHN, OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR FIRE-ALARM CIRCUITS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVILLIAM VVEsLEY KATTERJOHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Henderson, in the county of Henderson, State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closers for FireAlarm Circuits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to circuit closers and more particularly to that class which are designed to be employed in connection with fire alarm circuits.

The circuit closer embodving my invention comprises, broadly speaking, a base, a fixed contact arranged upon the base, a spring contact upon the base, a wedge shaped block of insulating material inserted between the fixed and the spring contact so as to normally hold them out of contact with each other, a spring connected indirectly with the wedge block of insulating material, and a cord connected to the spring and holding it at a tension so that burning of the cord or its destruction in any other manner will result in the spring being released and a pull being exerted upon the block to with draw it from engagement between the contacts thereby allowing the spring contact to move into contact with the fixed contact and in this manner closing the alarm circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the circuit closer embodying my invention showing diagrammatically the alarm circuit and also diagrammatically the arrangement of the flexible cord, Fig. 2 is a similar view but in detail of the circuit closer and showing the cord broken and the wedge withdrawn. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view in detail through the circuit closer. Fig. i is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a different system of wiring.

As shown in the drawings, the circuit closer embodying my invention comprises a base 5 which is to be attached to the wall of a room or to any other suitable support being secured by means of suitable screws 6. Upon the base and preferably extending transversely thereof is a strip 7 which forms I one contact of the circuit closer, there being a similar strip 8 of sheet spring metal secured at its upper end to the base and ex- Patented Nov. 24, 1908.

Serial No. 433,962.

tending downwardly to a sufficient degree to over lap the said strip 7 its lower portion being free and being adapted to spring into contact with the strip 7. One wire 9 of the alarm circuit is connected electrically with the strip 8 and the other wire 10 of the said circuit is connected electrically with the strip 7 and interposed in the wire 10 is a battery 11, the other end of the two wires 9 and 10 being connected to the terminals of an electric bell 12 although any other suitable operative signal may be employed such for example as an electric light.

A wedge shaped block of insulating material, indicated by the numeral 13, is normally inserted between the lower or free portion of the contact strip 8 and the middle portion of the fixed contact strip 7 and connected to this block is a short length of cord or cable 1a which at its other end is connected to one end of a spring 15 the other end of the spring being fixed to the Wall or to the lower portion of the base 5 of the circuit closer it being understood that the tendency of the spring is to pull downwardly upon the cord let and in this manner withdraw the wedge shaped insulating block 13 from engagement between the two contact strips and it being also understood that such withdrawal of the block will permit the contact strip 8 to spring into contact with the strip 7 thereby closing the alarm circuit. The spring 15 is normally held at a tension by means of a cord 16 which, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is trained through the number of staples 17 which are secured upon the walls, ceiling and other parts of the room in which the device is located, it being understood that in event of fire, this cord will be burned at some point and the spring 15 will be released to exert a pull upon the cord 1% and thereby withdraw the insulating block as heretofore stated.

It is of course to be understood that weights may be employed instead of the several springs of the device if found to be expedient.

that is claimed is:

The combination with an electric circuit having a. battery, an alarm, and a normally open circuit closer; of a spring connected to said circuit closer and adapted to close the same upon retraction; and means to hold said spring in extended position comprising two series of oppositely disposed spaced eyes, a

pair of cords extending through said eyes, transverse cords being arranged to hold the and a series of transverse cords extending pair of cords in zigzag position. 10 from one of said Cords to the other, said In testimony whereofflafiix my signature transverse cords being positioned between in presence of two witnesses.

the pairs of eyes and of less length than the WILLIAM WESLEY KATTERJOHN. distance from one series of eyes to the other Witnesses: and provided With rings upon the ends CHAS. SHULTZ,

through Which the pair of Cords passes, said CLARA E. SHULTZ. 

